The Best Garlic Press

Once upon a time people, most people, used tools on a daily basis. They knew how to design them because they used them long and hard. Try using a pitchfork made today and you will growl the whole way through the task with your back hurting and the hay on the ground. Shovels are bent at the wrong angle. This is why if you ask an older farmer or rancher, they will tell you they get their hand tools at estate sells – oldies but goodies.

So when our oldest found this at the second hand store across the street, she nabbed it and brought me a present. Truthfully, she had no clue what it was but thought it would make a great kitchen ornament. I believe ornaments are meant to be used so very few things actually just sit and simply look pretty in my house.

I correctly guessed a garlic press and the internet confirmed it. Just perfect for my new goal to grow and use only home grown garlic.

I lightly pressed on the handles until I heard and felt a crack. I opened it and the skins slid off like a dream with a light rub. At this moment, this women met heaven. I admit, I got carried away with the amount of garlic in my once famous Thanksgiving stuffing, oops! But really it was just too much fun.

There’s even little holes on one side of the wooden press so I’m guessing if you squeeze harder, juice will flow out. I’ve tried being the brave chef and hitting the garlic clove with the flat of my hand onto the side of a knife blade. I am a klutz. Someday I’m really going to slip. Thank you , thank you, oldest daughter and those a hundred years ago who knew what tools were for — making a task easier, safer.

So get to looking, you need one of these too if you love garlic like I love garlic. I’m guessing this one is from 1900 – 1909, a hundred years old. If only I could sneak back in time and stock up on the good stuff. Meanwhile, I’ll just keep dreaming of the day my hubby retires and he can build me some decent hand tools. Meanwhile, I’ll keep picking up those cheap, broken models for him to replicate. We call them barn ornaments but someday, they will be prototypes for a new set of tools.

Welcome!! Join me and find out what happens each week as I muddle between research and the reality of acquiring a measure of skill on the subject. It’s all about self-sufficiency and homesteading. So peek in as I coax frothy rich milk into the bucket, gather eggs, knead bread, and beg vegetables to grow.